After more than 15 years of struggling with her weight and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Misty Weldy had given up on doctors.
“Honestly, I’d lost faith in the medical profession,” said Misty. “I was seeing doctor after doctor, diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and struggling to keep my weight at 220 pounds.”
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) brings with it a myriad of health issues, including an excess of insulin, which often leads to weight gain. “For 5 years I avoided the doctor because it felt like nothing was helping. Instead, I focused on trying to eat healthy, but I still couldn’t get my weight under the 220 pound mark.”
After moving to Tallahassee in 2007, and having two happy and healthy children, Misty noticed a significant drop in her energy levels. She felt unusually tired, even exhausted, most of the time.
“I realized that being constantly tired wasn’t normal. After a trip to my family doctor, a blood test revealed that I had very low vitamin D levels. I knew I needed to address my fatigue, but I wanted to find a doctor that I felt would truly listen to me and work with me to help me feel better.”
After some research, Misty discovered some encouraging reviews about the Tallahassee Memorial Bariatric Center and Dr. Kelley Lang, the area’s most experienced certified obesity physician. While skeptical of doctors in general, Misty scheduled an appointment at the Bariatric Center with Dr. Lang and Katie Snyder, the Bariatric Registered Dietitian.
“From day one, Dr. Lang never made me feel like I was simply ‘fat because I ate too much.’ She listened to me, she cared about me and she created a treatment plan based on my PCOS.”
Working with Misty as an active participant in her care, Dr. Lang augmented Misty’s medicines and started her on vitamins to address her deficiencies. As a certified bariatric physician, Dr. Lang and the Bariatric team were also able to craft a treatment plan that was specific to Misty, taking into account her medical history and creating a plan of lifestyle modification that was manageable.
“They really know what they’re doing. They created a diet for me that I can actually follow. Katie took my PCOS into account, as well as my likes and dislikes, and made the diet work for me. The Bariatric Center also helped me make other changes to improve my health, like quitting smoking.”
Over the six months that Misty has been working with the Bariatric Center team, she’s lost over 50 pounds, nearly 20% of her original body weight*. Studies show that losing just 5-10% of your body weight can create significant health benefits, including a reducing the risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and multiple types of cancer.
“It’s really been a complete 180 degree change. I used to hate my body and hate going to the doctor. Now, I’m full of energy, happy and excited to keep working with Dr. Lang and the Bariatric Center. It’s been a huge relief to finally find a doctor that helped me. Now I have a life that I love.”
